Caution: Evil Genius at Work
My favorite ride in the entire universe is Tower of Terror. Way back in the stone ages when I was in college and worked at Walt Disney World for a semester, I would leave for work an hour early just so I could stop at what was then called MGM and ride the Tower of Terror a few dozen times. That ride is my first, last, and every priority when we're patrolling the land of the giant rat.
Of course Alexis hates Tower of Terror.
And I do mean HATES.
She rode it twice last year, which still befuddles me because she hated it the first time. I can't really figure out why she was willing to try it a second time. Perhaps so she could lather on a hefty coating of parental guilt when she bawled and whined and sobbed afterwards because it was "too scary."
This year, I figured there was no way we would get Alexis to try the Tower of Terror again. Which, honestly, was fine by me. I had full intentions of snagging a Fast Pass for her and then using it myself. I'll ride it two or three times in an hour and I'll be VERY happy about it. But, when it came time to decide whether or not she would ride, I sort of half-heartedly threw out that I would buy her something if she rode with me.
She said yes. Instantly.
This year, she still hated the ride. A lot.
And yet! AND YET the child was willing to talk when it came time to return to Tower of Terror again. Once again, she who vehemently hates that ride was willing to accept bribery in exchange for riding. Once again, she sobbed throughout the entire ride, but then skipped down the street, merrily talking about what she was going to get at the store.
Either I'm getting played the fool or the kid has legitimately stumbled onto the greatest racket of all time.
So far riding the Tower of Terror has cost me $50.
It has been worth every penny.
Shhhh . . . don't tell the kid that we were planning to buy her a couple of souvenirs anyway. We just bought them early and used them as "currency" to get what we wanted. Heh.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Reader Comments (4)
This same tactic worked on my mom the last time we went. ;) I think I had to buy her ice cream, though...
Bribery works. I was successfully bribed into not crying hysterically when I got my allergy shots when my mom offered me a new squeezy rubber change purse.
I probably should have held out for more.
I've never been to Disney.. Someday...
I CAN. NOT. WAIT. for 20 years to go by so we can see what her true angle was!